Saudi Arabian tank crew burnt alive after Houthi ambush in YemenCross-border operations are taking a deadly toll on the Saudi Arabian Army (KSA) as Houthi-led troops continue to conduct hit-and-run attacks across three southern governorates of the Gulf Kingdom.

On Wednesday afternoon, 4 Saudi troops were killed after failing to escape a M1 Abrams battle tank that was hit by a guided anti-tank missile launched by Houthi insurgents in the southern countryside of Najran province. A fifth Saudi soldier was also killed by skirmishes at the nearby Al-Shabakah military base the day before, Hesham Al-Kibsi told Al-Masdar news.

Earlier today, Yemeni forces operating in the contested Jiran governorate also shelled the villages of Al-Rab’ee, Al-Miqtab, Malhammah, Al-Dokhan and Al-Ghawiah while a Saudi Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) was destroyed at the Saudi Karss Jawbah base. Although many casualties are believed to have been inflicted, the occurence was too early for the military source to determine a death toll from Wednesday’s bombardment.

Nevertheless, at least three Saudi soldiers and several affiliated foreign mercenaries were killed by the Popular Committees as the latter repelled a Saudi-led offensive on Al-Robo’ah, a Saudi city in Asir province which is under Houthi control.

Effectively, a confirmed 8 Saudi soldiers have been killed-in-action (KIA) over the past 48 hours alone. Two weeks ago, Al-Masdar News revealed that a total of 119 government troops had been killed by sniper fire thus far in 2017.Source: DAMASCUS, SYRIA - By Chris Tomson - www.almasdarnews.com - 19 April 2017